Unit 155: System Analysis and Design

1. Introduction to System Analysis and Design

• Definition and scope of system analysis and design
• Importance in developing efficient and effective information systems
• Overview of the system development life cycle (SDLC)
• Roles and responsibilities of system analysts and designers

2. Understanding System Requirements

• Techniques for gathering requirements (interviews, questionnaires, observation)
• Analyzing requirements for feasibility and clarity
• Documenting functional and non-functional requirements
• Managing stakeholder expectations and communication

3. System Modeling Techniques

• Purpose and benefits of system modeling
• Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs)
  • Symbols and levels of DFDs
  • Creating context and detailed DFDs
• Entity-Relationship Diagrams (ERDs)
  • Entities, attributes, relationships
  • Cardinality and participation constraints
• Unified Modeling Language (UML) Diagrams
  • Use case diagrams
  • Class diagrams
  • Sequence diagrams

4. System Design Principles

• Modularity: dividing a system into manageable modules
• Abstraction: hiding complex details
• Information hiding: encapsulation of data and processes
• Coupling and cohesion concepts
• Designing for maintainability and scalability

5. User Interface Design

• Principles of good user interface design
• Usability and accessibility considerations
• Designing intuitive navigation and layouts
• Prototyping and user feedback integration

6. Database Design and Implementation

• Importance of database design in system development
• Relational database concepts
• Data normalization (1NF, 2NF, 3NF)
• Designing tables, keys, and relationships
• Implementing databases using SQL

7. System Testing and Validation

• Types of testing (unit, integration, system, acceptance)
• Testing strategies and planning
• Defect tracking and management
• Validating system against requirements

8. Implementation and Deployment

• Preparing for system installation and configuration
• Data migration and integration
• User training and documentation
• Deployment strategies and rollout plans

9. System Maintenance and Evolution

• Importance of maintenance in system lifecycle
• Types of maintenance: corrective, adaptive, perfective, preventive
• Performance monitoring and optimization
• Handling change requests and system upgrades